M 51 - Whirlpool Galaxy

M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy, a face-on spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici, is somewhere around 25 million light years from Earth. It is estimated to be about 35% the size of our own Milky Way. It is believed that the smaller companion galaxy, NGC 5195 (the much fuzzier galaxy to the right), has passed through the Whirlpool twice, helping to create the pronounced spiral structure.

This image was taken remotely with our Planewave 17" telescope in Texas. With the rainy season almost upon us, we will rely on data from the USA for our imaging the next 5 months. The LRGB image comprises 13 hours 20 minutes of exposures.